A Wrinkle-free Day. Duffels, Bars, and Kayaks?

It was 10:09… and I was 9 minutes behind schedule. I timed it so I was supposed to be out the door at 10AM to have enough time to go kayaking before I picked up my friend from his hotel for lunch. I ate a quick breakfast, and stuffed a duffel bag with whatever clothes I thought would be appropriate in any situation, for later that day. I was going kayaking but afterward, I had no idea where the day would take me. If I threw dark jeans, penny loafers (sans-socks per the 70 degree temperature) a white button down, and a navy blazer into my duffel, I’d be good to hang in just about any scene– so I went with the safe bet.

Not sure if you caught that, but yes, I threw a blazer in a duffel bag with shoes, jeans, and a wrinkly button-down. Not hung on a hanger in my car, or laid flat across the backseat like many of us do.. I didn’t even take the time toproperly fold my blazer for traveling which can help minimize wrinkles and creases. I was in such a rush that morning, I tossed it into my duffel and hit the road. I was late and I dislike being late.

Back to the story. I finished my hour of kayaking that morning and I emerged with a couple battle scars on my hands and legs. I wasn’t anticipating those rapids. To be honest, I didn’t even know the river had any. Should have checked into that…

I opened the duffel, I pulled out my white shirt, my jeans, shoes, and the Allen Edmonds navy traveler blazer. To my surprise, I didn’t see any wrinkles on the blazer…Anywhere. And it was almost 1pm. Off to the hotel to pick up my friend.

Lunch was great. It was 70 degrees with some humidity but I wasn’t getting hot. I was starting to notice how light and airy the blazer felt. It was breezy. With soft-shoulders, and a minimal yoke lining, this thing was almost stripped down to the bone. I wouldn’t say it was “unlined” because of the sleeves and upper back, but take a look for yourself. This thing is meant to keep you cool—literally from a temperature standpoint and well, for appearances sake I suppose.

Holding the blazer up to a window to show the passage of air through the fabric’s fibers

So it passed the initial three hour buried-in-duffel-test, but I really wanted to see what this thing could do. I finished up a great lunch with my buddy and, because we live in different cities and only see each other maybe once per year, we did what anyone would do in our situation…we went to restaurants and bars for the rest of the day…until 1:45 the following morning. As the night went on, I received several compliments on my attire. That was a pleasant surprise!

Don’t let 100% wool scare you. Wool can be very breathable and cool. This is an all-seasons workhorse

I’m all about versatility and products that can go the distance and support my lifestyle. Plain and simple. Yes, I could have tested this on a normal day at work or on a flight to be honest, but that’s what I would expect out of any blazer. If a blazer can be stuffed into a duffel bag and emerge hours later wrinkle-free, if it can keep you cool all-day when it’s 70 degrees, sunny, and humid, and if it can go with you for 13 hours straight without a break, and get a few attire compliments, then I think you’ve found yourself a winner.